Display device



July 18, 1933. H. L. MYERS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed-July 27, 1932 2Sheets-She t 1 IN V EN TOR, fJQ/PoLD L fly BY d dfiwqJu ATTORNEYS,

I ii J Q2 .HHWH 2 July 18, 1933.

H. L. MYERS 1,918,712

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 E 45 i i Q 19!; i5 23 E? l. I I Z I v I 1 i i o l I l i m 0 0 i *i- A a 1 INVENTOR/-/9/POL0 L. NYE/ 5 7 BY d/EXQWM ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1933 UNITEDSTATES HAROLD L. MYERS, OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY DISPLAY DEVICEApplication filed July 27,

The invention relates to display devices for merchandise and moreparticularly to that type of such devices which comprises a displaymember on which the merchandise 5 is removably mounted, and a foldableease] for supporting said member in display POSl'. tion. The inventioncontemplates the provision of a display device of the indicatedcharacter which is simple in construction 0 and of maximum stability inits display position and which is capable of being readily folded forstorage and shipment. Another object is to provide a display devicewhich is constructed and arranged for the ready attachment of the easelto the display member and for cooperation therewith in the. supportingof the merchandise thereon. In addition, the invention proposes a novelarrangement of foldable sections extending lengthwise of the displaymember preferably at oppositeedge portions thereof to in crease thestability of said member and to cooperate therewith in the provision ofadditional means for supporting the merchan-- dise. Other objects willappear from the description hereinafter, and the features of noveltywill be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of theinvention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe device in display position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on anenlarged scale, of said device in display position; Fig. 3 is a planview thereof with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 1 is a rearview of the device in folded position for fastening'the parts together;Fig. 5 is a corresponding front view; Fig. 6 is a rear view'of thedevice in folded position for storage or shipment, and Fig. 7 is afragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale.

i In its illustrated form, the display device comprises a front member10 generally constructed of cardboard or the like in theform of a flat,rectangular card and provided with means whereby predetermined articlesof merchandise are removably supported thereon; as shown-in thedrawings, this means comprises openings 11 of suitable size and shape toaccommodate the articles of mer- 1932.- Serial No. 625,076.

chandise for which the particular device is designed. As shown in Fig.5,.the openings 11 are arranged in vertically aligning outside rows aand vertically aligning inside rows Z). The device further includesfoldable sections, preferably located at the opposite longitudinal edgesthereof for the purpose of providing backs for the outside rows a ofopenings 11, and which at the same time provide tubular members adaptedto increase the rigidity of the front member 10 when the latter is inits display position. These foldable sections comprise outer flaps 12foldably connected at 13 with the front member 10, and at 14 with rearmembers 15, @Q the latter in turn being foldably connected at 16 withinner flaps 1201, which are foldably connected at 17 with tabs 18,pasted or otherwise securedto the rear face of the front member 10, asillustrated in Fig. 3. 9

In the preferred construction, the flaps 12 and 12a, the rear members 15and the tabs 18 all constitute integral continuations of each other andof the front member 10, and are foldable on score'lines located atthe 1. 1. points 13, 1 1, 16 and 17 obviously, however, the elements 12,12a, 15 and 18 may be independent members foldably connected with eachother in any conventional manner without changing the results obtained.In adz9 dition to their stiffening functions, the rear members 15 ofthefoldable sections, as previousl'y stated, provide backs for the outerrows a of the openings 11, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter;preferably the rearmembers 15 include holes 19 located in registry withthe openings 11 to enable the articles of merchandise to be easilyremoved from the latter at will.

The device further includes an easel 9 whereby the front member 10 issupported in display position, which easel, in addition to itssupporting. function, provides backs for the innerrows Z) of theopenings 11; the easel is inifixed connection with the aforesaidfoldable sections and partakes of certain of the folding movementsthereof, as will be set forth more clearly hereinafter. In itsillustrated, form the easel comprises an easel member 20, located inoverlapping sur- 1 20, and secured thereto by certainiof the,

fastening devices 21 or their equivalent. A brace 29 is folda-blyconnected at 30 with the flap 28, and in its operative position servesto maintain the easel, or more specifically,

the prop 22 thereof, in its I operative supporting position.

In the preferred arrangement, the easel 20 member 20, prop 22,"basemember 25, flap 28 and brace 29 allconstitute integral continuations ofeach other and are constructed from a single sheet of material such ascardboard or the like, the foldable connections 23, 24, 27 and 3.0comprising customary score lines to facilitate therelativepivotalmovements of the various elements; it will be obviousthat some or all of the elements 20, 22,25, 28 and 29 may compriseseparate members foldably connected in any conventional manner toprovide a. corresponding arrangement. 'T The brace 29 is preferablyrecessed or cut away, as indicated at 29c; so as to be of a relativelylesser width than the width of the other associated elements whichcomprise the easel; the purpose of this spe cial arrangement will bemore fully described further .on in the description. As shown in thedrawings the easel member 20 m is provided with holes 19a, correspondingto the holes 19 and located in registry with the openings 11 of the rowsto facilitate the removal vof the, articles of merchandise from the lastmentioned openings. In addi- 5 tion, the prop 22 includes apertures 31,.

which in. the folded condition of the device shown in Fig. 4 are adaptedto'register with the staples or equivalent fastening devices 21 forv thepurpose to be more definitely pointed out hereinafter. 7

In practice, the openings 11' of the front member 10 are adapted tocontain articles of merchandise, said openings 11 being dimensioned andshaped to. receive the articles of 55 merchandise 11a for which thedevice is designed, said articles 11w fitting said open ingswithsufficient snugness to be held thereby, as illustrated in Fig. 1.7 Whenthus utilized, the outer flaps 12 and the inner flaps 00 1266 are foldedor bent to positions perpendicular to the front member 10 so asto bringthe rearmembers 15 into rearwardly spaced registry with the outer rows mof openings 11, and to coincidentallyposition the easel 65 member inrearwardly spaced registry with the inner rows 6 of said openings, saidrear members 15 and easel member 20 being parallel to the front member10 and providing backs respectively for the openings 11 of the rows aand b, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In thisposition of the parts, the foldable sections consisting of the flaps 12and-12m and the rear members 15 which, in the illustrated example,extend lengthwise along the opposite vertical ed es of the front member10, also serve to sti en the latter or to increase its rigidity againstbending or collapse under the load imposed by the supply of articles ofmerchandise 11a contained in the openings 11. To support thedevice inits display position, the collapsible base member is unfolded orvextended to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and the brace 29 ispivotally adjusted to seat its free edge in the angle formed by thebasemember 25 and the prop 22. In this, way, the easel is given atriangular form in which the base member 25 provides a firm supportingbase for the device, while the prop 22 serves to firmly fix the frontmember 10 in an upright inclined display position; un intentionalcollapse of the device is prevented by the brace 29, as will be clearfrom an inspection of .Fig. 2;

In this condition of the device, the articles of merchandise 110; areattractively displayedifor sale-and in a position to be easily removedfrom the openings 11, as required; if any difficulty is encountered inremoving. the articles 1164 from the openings 11, a finger or a suitableimplement may be inserted through the holes 19 to easily force thearticles 11a from the given openings 11.

To fold the device into a condition for storage or shipment, the brace29' is swung upwardly onthe fold into surface engagement with the rearface of the easel 20, it being understood that the prop 22 will yieldsufliciently to permit this adjustmentof the brace 29; the base member25 may then be collapsed inwardly on the folding line 26 so as to lie ina folded condition between the prop 22 and the flap 28 and brace 29, aswill be clear. If the device contains no articles of merchandise 11a,the foldable'sections consisting of the flaps 12, 12a and rear members15 will occupy folded positions in which the rear members 15 lie in,substantially surface engagement with the rear face of the'front member10, as ilthe positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,

while the easel will occupy the folded position shown in Fig. 6. Ineither case, the

device is of compact, minimum dimensions,

capable of being easily and readily stored or shipped.- 1

In the manufacture of the device, the

tabs 18 are secured by pasting or otherwise to the rear face of thefront member 10, and the easel, consisting of the easel mem ber 20, prop22, base member 25, flap 28 and brace 29 is constructed as a separateele ment. To unite the easel with the associated elements of the displaydevice, the front section 10 is first folded, for instance, to the leftin Fig. the flaps 12 and 12a swinging on the score lines 13, 14, 16 and17 or their equivalent to permit this adjustment of said front memberthis operation brings the rear members and the flaps 12a and one of theflaps 12 into substantial surface engagement with the rear face ofsaid'front member 10, in the manner illustrated in Figs; 4 and 5. Theeasel member 20 is then properly positioned in overlapping relation andsurface engagement with the collapsed rear members 15 with the base 1member folded outwardly to the position as indicated in Fig. 4. Thefront face of the one rear section 15 isthus properly exposed throughthe one row a of openings 11 to permit aconventional stapling machine orits equivalent to act through said openings 11 for setting staples 21 orequivalent fastening devices in place in registry with the apertures 31of the prop 22; the latter permit said staples 21 to be clinched in thecustomary manner or the equivalent fastening device to be acted on in amanner to securely fasten them in place. WVhen this has beenaccomplished, the front member 10 is folded toward the right in themanner similar to that previously described to bring the parts'to theposition shown in Fig. 7, so as to expose thefrontsurface of the otherfoldable sectionthrough the openings 11 of the other row a, and topermit a second row of staples 21 or equivalent fastening devices to besecured in place in registery with the other set of'openings 31 of theprop 22. As clearlyshown in Figs. 3 and 1, the reduced width of thebrace 29 resulting from the recessed or cut out portions 29a is lessthan the distance between the staples 21 or equivalent fastening devicesat the opposite edges of the easel member 20; the brace 29 accordinglypresents no interferenceto the mechanical operation of stapling or itsequivalent. As a result of this construction and arrangement, thestaples 21, or their equivalent, may be easily and quickly placed inposition, without the exercise of any particular care, and automaticallywill simply pass through the rear members 15 and the easel member 20,and

at the bottom of the device may also extend space between the foldablesections located along opposite edges of the front member 10, and so asto provide backs for the inner supervision in its performance. It will,of

course, be understood that the various foldable portions of the devicemay compriseindependent elements pivotally connected with each other, inwhich case the score lines of the illustrated form of the invention maybe replaced by other means, whereby said independent elements arepivotally connected with each other to produce the same results. In itsdisplay position, the device is of maximum rigidity and supports themerchandise in an efficient manner, even when the full supply for whichthe device is designed is included therein. 1

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A display device of the kind described 7 comprising a front memberprovided with parallel outer and inner rows of openings arranged invertical alignment to removably receive predetermined articles ofmerchandise, outer flaps foldably connected with said front member alongopposite vertical edges thereof, inner flaps foldably connected withsaid front member in spaced parallel relation to said outer flaps, rearmembers extending between and foldably connected with an inner and anouter flap and positioned thereby in spaced relation to said frontmember to constitute backs for the outer rows of openings and toformfoldable sections along opposite vertical edges of said front member toincrease the rigidity thereof, said flaps and rear members comprisingintegral continuations of each other and said front member, and afoldable easel connected with said rear members and arranged to bepositioned therewith in spaced relation to said front member to formhacks for the inner rows of openings, said easel supporting said frontmember-in display position. I

2. A display device of the kind described comprising a front memberprovided with openings arranged in groups to removably receivepredetermined articles of merchanspaced relation to said front member toform backs forf predetermined groups of said openings,,said flaps andrear members com prising integral continuations of'each other and saidfront member, and a foldable easel connected with said rear members andpositioned therewith in spaced relation to said front member to formbacks for other'predetermined groups of said openings, said easelsupporting said frontmember in display position.

r 3. A display device of the kind described comprising a front memberprovided with openings arranged in groups to removably receivepredetermined articles of merchandise, flaps foldably connected withsaid front member, rear members foldably connected with said flaps andpositioned thereby in spaced relation to said front member to form backsfor predetermined groups of said openings, and an easel connected withsaid rear members and positioned therewith in spaced relation to saidfront member to form backs for other predetermined groups of saidopenings, said easel supporting said front member in display position.

4:. A display device of the kind described comprising a frontmemberprovided with openings arranged inparallel vertical rows forremovably receiving predetermined articles of merchandise, foldablesections foldably connected with said frontmember in spacer relation toeach other to provide spaced tubular members adapted to increase therigidity of said front member and to provide hacks for predeterminedrows of said openings, and an easel connected with 7 said foldablesections for supporting said front member in display position andmovable ith said foldable sections into spaced relation to said frontmember to provide backs for otherpredetermined rows of saidopenings. I Y

5. A display device of the kind described comprising a front memberprovided with means for removably supporting articles of merchandise, aneasel for supporting said front member in display position, and spacedfoldable sections foldably connected with said front member to providetubular members for stiffening said front member,

7 said foldable sections extending into the supporting range of saideasel in fixed connection therewith. V

' 6. A display device of thekind described comprising a front memberprovided with openings for removably receiving predetermined articlesofmerehandise, foldable sections foldably connected with said frontmember in spaced parallel relation to increase the rigidity thereof andto provide hacks for some of said openings, an easel member engaging andbridging the space betweensaid foldable sections to provide backs forothers of said openings, a prop foldably connected with said easelmember for supporting said front member in display position and providedwith apertures, a collapsible base member foldably connected with saidprop, a foldable brace comprising an integral extension of said basemember for fixing the latter in an extended position and said prop inoperative position, said brace being of reduced width throughout aportion of its length, and fastening devices in registry with certain ofsaid openings and said apertures for securing said easel member to saidfoldable sections.

7 L A display device of the kind described comprising a front, memberprovided with openings for removably receiving predetermined articles ofmerchandise, an easel member adapted to provide backs for at least someof said openings, a prop foldably connected with said easel member forsupporting said front member in display position and providedwithapertures, fastening devices in registry with said last-mentionedopenings and said apertures for securing said easel member in place anda brace foldably connected with said easel member for fixing said propin operative position and recessed at its opposite longitudinal edges toa width less than the distance between opposed fastening devices.

8. A folded display device of the kind described comprising a frontmember provided with merchandise receiving openings, spa' ced rearmembers forming backs for certain of said openings, flaps foldablyconnecting said rear members with said front member whereby the latterand said rear members are foldable into substantial surface engagementwith each other, a foldable easel extending between said rear membersand overlapping the same to provide backs forothers of said openings,said easel being provided with apertures, and fastening devicesaccessible through said last-mentioned openings and said apertures andextending only through said rear members and a predetermined part ofsaid easel for securing the latter to said rear members.

9. Alfolded display device of the kind described comprising a frontmember provided with merchandise receiving openings, spaced rear membersforming backs for certain of saidopenings, flaps foldably connectingsaid'rear members with said front member avliereby the latter and saidrear members are foldable-into substantial surface engagement with eachother, an easel I as and between said member and prop, said brace beingrecessed along its outer edges, and metal staples accessible throughsaid last-mentioned openings and said apertures and extending onlythrough said rear members and easel member at opposite sides of therecessed portions of said brace.

HAROLD L. MYERS.

